Peer review

Science is the engine of human innovation and our advances rely on trustworthy evidence. Peer review is vital to knowing what to trust.

Mariette DiChristina

Editor in Chief and Senior VP, Scientific American

Partners

I don't know what to believe

In 2005 we published the world’s first guide to peer review: I Don’t Know What to Believe. In the UK, it is enshrined in BBC editorial policy, civil service training and high school education. We launched a US version in 2013 and the guide has been translated into Chinese, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. Read more about I Don’t Know What to Believe.

Peer review workshops

Ensuring the next generation of scientists are equipped with the confidence and training in public engagement and peer review is a vital part of our work. Our Voice of Young Science (VoYS) programme offers popular Standing up for Scienceand peer review workshops every year. We have also published a guide to peer review, Peer review: the nuts and bolts written by early career researchers for early career researchers. Find out more about the guide and our workshops, visit the VoYS homepage.

Talking about Peer Review

Julia Wilson, director of operations at Sense about Science, talks to Wiley about our work to promote an understanding of peer review. Listen to the podcast. (4 Jan 2017)

So does the public finally get peer review?

Julia Wilson, director of operations at Sense about Science, writes for Elsevier about how a 10-year collaboration is raising awareness of the role of evidence in policy, news and society. Read Julia’s piece in Elsevier Connect. (29 Sept 2015)

Peer Review Survey 2009

Peer review is fundamental to integration of new research findings. It allows other researchers to analyse findings and society at large to weigh up research claims. In 2009, Sense about Science developed one of the largest ever international surveys of authors and reviewers. Read the Peer Review Survey 2009 final report and findings.